13 Pro Tips For Playing Octopath Traveler (2024)

Octopath Traveler is an RPG developed by Square Enix that serves as a throwback to the golden era of JRPGs with a few modern quality-of-life changes added to the mix. The game takes place in the land of Orsterra and follows the journeys of eight adventurers, all with different backgrounds and characteristics. Besides the usual JRPG strategies, such as saving whenever possible and keeping the party in tip-top shape, the player should keep more tactics in mind and utilize further methods when it comes to the game.

In fact, unlike many other JRPGs, Octopath Traveler is not exactly "simple." The player cannot just mash the same button every turn in combat and breeze through the overworld without paying some attention. The challenging gameplay adds weight to the game's many cinematic boss fights that make for some major highlights in each traveler's adventure. Players who want to ace the combat of this game and give every villain a taste of their own medicine can use several valuable Octopath Traveler tips and tricks to make the most of this title's engaging gameplay.

Updated on July 19, 2024, by Ritwik Mitra: Octopath Traveler is one of the best modern JRPGs players can get their hands on. The individual stories of this title may not have reached the heights that most people wanted, but all of this is overcome by the amazing gameplay that makes both combat and exploration pretty rewarding. However, players who expected to breeze through this title like most classic JRPGs will be in for a rude awakening when the game whipsout several challenging boss fights and tough encounters that can be a pain to deal with for those unsure of what to do. These Octopath Traveler tips and tricks will go a long way in making the game manageable for players who are struggling to progress.

13 Use Buffs To Make Combat Manageable

Can Help Against Tougher Enemies When The Party Is Underleveled Or Ill-Equipped

Every JRPG would be incomplete without abilities that buff a character's stats, improving attack and defense in equal measure to get a leg up on opponents. While some people may consider the buffs in Octopath Traveler to be optional, this couldn't be further from the truth. There are times when players may tackle an enemy that is way harder to deal with than expected, making it prudent to use buffs to even the playing field. It's one of the most important Octopath Traveler tips and tricks that players should be aware of.

If players want to make the most of their attack-focused buffs, then they should be used around a time when the enemy is broken and the party's BP stock is high. Meanwhile, defensive buffs should be used against enemies that hit like a truck and are charging up a powerful attack. In both these instances, buffs can be lifesavers that can help players end a fight early or remain in high spirits even as they're being walloped to kingdom come.

12 Don't Hoard Items

Some Items Can Save A Player's Hide In A Dire Situation

Every JRPG player will develop a bad habit that can be hard to get rid of. While there are many healing and support items that players can find during their travels in Octopath Traveler, the potency of their effects varies. Generally, all-heal items that restore party members to full in every department end up being so valuable that gamers tend to keep them in reserve for a big moment that never comes.

This makes it important to use these items against powerful bosses instead of using neutered healing items to preserve these restoratives. There's no point in trying to converse a valuable item when players are dying to a boss over and over again. This Octopath Traveler tip will go a long way in helping players make progress, even if it can feel bad to use a valuable restorative that is as rare as they come.

11 Complete As Many Side Quests As Possible

The Rewards For Certain End-Game Quests Are Amazing

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There are many side quests that players can complete in Octopath Traveler, and all of them are useful in some way. Ideally, players should try and complete these short requests as and when they become available instead of ignoring them for the main story.

The rewards scale better and help players tackle tougher bosses in later chapters. It's a fairly obvious Octopath Traveler tip, but it's one that players should always keep in mind if they want to get some valuable rewards for the time they put into helping the game's many residents.

10 Choose The Best Starting Character

A Player's First Priority Should Govern Their Choice Of Protagonist

There are eight characters to choose from in Octopath Traveler, and the player needs to make a decision right out the gate. While there is no wrong choice or right one, some characters are just easier to start with than others according to their playstyle. But eventually, the player will meet them all.

Olberic is a classic Warrior who smashes most foes with his strength. Cyrus is a powerful Scholar who can use magic to exploit enemy weaknesses. Tressa is a regular Merchant who can restore HP and SP (while curing Status Ailments) and get money. Ophilia is a typical Cleric that heals people and can cast holy spells. Primrose is a classy Dancer that buffs others and can recruit NPCs. Alfyn is a smart Apothecary who finds ingredients to make potions. Therion is a clever Thief who steals items and stabs opponents. H'aanit is a strong Hunter who tames beasts and shoots foes in the face.

9 Use Those Path Actions

Maximize Everyone's Special Abilities In Every Town Possible

In the Octopath Traveler, every character has a unique skill in the overworld called a Path Action. Some are considered "Noble" — skilled but no penalty, and others "Rogue" — novice but penalty if failed. For the most part, they can (and should) be spammed.

Olberic can Challenge (Noble), dueling certain NPCs. Cyrus can Scrutinize (Rogue), interrogating NPCs for information. Tressa can Purchase (Noble), buying items from NPCs. Ophilia can Guide (Noble), escorting NPCs. Primrose can Allure (Rogue), charming NPCs. Alfyn can Inquire (Noble), chatting with NPCs for information. Therion can Steal (Rogue), pilfering items from NPCs. H'aanit can Provoke (Rogue), unleashing beasts on NPCs to trigger combat.

8 Do Not Forget To Fast Travel

Can Easily Be Missed By Players

The land of Orsterra is huge and sprawling. It will take the player a long amount of time to just walk back and forth everywhere. Fortunately, fast travel exists.

To fast travel, players can open up the menu and select any town on the world map that they have been to already to teleport there. This only applies to towns, though; players cannot warp to dungeons or random points in other areas.

7 Break Enemies Down

The Best Way To Inflict High Damage Numbers

In Octopath Traveler, each enemy has a certain amount of Shield Points and at least one Vulnerability. If the player exploits one of their Vulnerabilities, they will destroy one of their Shields. When the enemy loses all its Shields, their current turn will end, and their next one will be canceled.

This status is called "Break." Enemies will take an additional 50 percent damage and become Weak to incoming attacks. When they recover, they act immediately (no matter how fast anyone else on the battlefield is). So, the player must take advantage of this and time their strikes.

6 Stock Up On Boosts

Augments A Character's Abilities To Great Heights

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Every turn the character acts, they will earn a Boost Point. They are stocked every turn, and up to three Boost Points may be used at once. If the character consumes a Boost Point, they enter Boost Mode.

In Boost Mode, attacks are multiplied per each Boost Point consumed (doubled, tripled, or quadrupled). Also, buffs and debuffs last longer (two more turns), and some skills become more efficient, such as targeting more enemies. However, no Boost Points are stocked on the turn Boost Mode is used.

5 Do Not Be Afraid To Switch Characters

All Eight Party Members Should Be Leveled Up Equally

The player may get attached and use the same four characters in their party throughout the entire game. This is not a viable strategy, however. All eight characters should be ready for combat, but generally, it is okay to mix and match since they all have certain strengths and weaknesses (and therefore synchronizations).

Basically, four of the characters are physical (Olberic, Alfyn, Therion, H'aanit), and the other four are elemental (Cyrus, Tressa, Ophilia, Primrose). If the player is lacking physical strength, they should swap in one of the former choices and vice versa (elemental power) for the latter. Also, generally, players only need to worry about filling the key roles of a healer, a tank, and a damage dealer. The fourth slot is up to the player, depending on their preference.

4 Leave No Dungeon Unexplored

Dungeons Provide Powerful Equipment, Valuable Items, And Numerous Opportunities To Level Up

There are dungeons in Octopath Traveler and lots of them. Some are mandatory, and others are optional, but all of them have loot. Plus, the player will have to grind eventually, so they might as well do so in an environment where they are encountering new monsters and finding valuable treasure.

The optional dungeons in question are Carrion Caves, Derelict Mine, Everhold Tunnels, Loch of the Lost King, Marsalim Catacombs, Maw of the Ice Dragon, Path of Beasts, Refuge Ruins, The Hollow Throne, The Whistlewood, Tomb of the Imperator, Twin Falls, Untouched Sanctum, and Whistling Cavern.

3 Find All The Shrines

The Extra Jobs Are Some Of The Best The Game Has To Offer

Throughout the world of Orsterra, there are 12 Shrines scattered about. Each is dedicated to a god, but more importantly, each unlocks a secondary job (eight). There are also advanced jobs (four) that require the player to defeat the god.

After Chapter 1, players will begin to stumble upon the Starting Job Shrines. They are located somewhere in the areas where Chapters 2 and 3 take place. When discovered, a secondary job will be unlocked. This means a character can take on a sub-job and become better.

In the late game, the player can find Advanced Job Shrines to unlock powerful classes after defeating a rather powerful boss.

2 Use The Advanced Jobs On Appropriate Characters

Some Characters Can Make The Most Of These Powerful Jobs

The Advanced Jobs present in Octopath Traveler are extremely powerful, to the point where they dwarf the existing jobs in terms of pure utility. The Warmaster, Runelord, Starseer, and Sorcerer are all amazing jobs that let certain characters unleash a torrent of powerful magic against their enemies.

That being said, players should still be mindful of whom they assign these jobs to. Some characters are objectively better choices for certain Advanced Jobs, with certain criteria determining the same. This ranges from the obvious (giving Starseer and Sorcerer to magic-leaning characters) to the obtuse (giving Runelord to Tressa so that her beneficial abilities can affect the entire party).

1 Make Sure To Prepare Thoroughly Before Facing The True Final Boss

Galdera Is No Joke And Will Pulverize An Unprepared Party

Most people who go through all the individual chapters of Octopath Traveler might find the ending to be rather underwhelming, especially since there isn't any. All characters just go through their individual quests before fading into the background, while the other protagonists get their time to shine.

This is because Octopath Traveler hides its biggest and toughest challenge behind a bunch of side quests, leading to the true final boss and ending of the game. Most players who find out about this information will jump at the chance to reach this ending, but the process is nowhere near as simple.

For starters, players need to get through a massive boss rush before even gaining the chance to fight Galdera. Thankfully, these fights aren't all that challenging if players are kitted out properly, but the same can't be said for the game's secret boss.

Galdera is an extremely tough opponent that players need to split their party in two to defeat. It's one of the hardest JRPG bosses of all time, and players should prepare accordingly to take it down, especially since a loss will boot them back to the start and force them to go through the boss rush once again.

Octopath Traveler

Platform(s)

Xbox One , Switch , PC , Stadia

Released

July 13, 2018

Developer(s)

Square Enix

Genre(s)

JRPG